Ostrich facts The world’s largest bird

Ostrich facts The world’s largest bird. Ostriches are huge and flightless birds that have long legs as well as a long neck that extends from an oval body. Males are bold in their black-and-white coloring, which they use to draw females. Females however have a light brown.

Ostriches are larger than any other bird on the planet. They can reach 9 ‘ (2.7 meters) tall and weigh as much as 350 pounds (145 kilograms) as per the Africa Wildlife Foundation(opens in a new tab), and an eye of an ostrich is approximately 2 inches (5 centimeters) in diameter. Black And Yellow Birds This is the biggest that any animal on land. Ostriches are the only bird with two toes on both feet. Other birds have four or three toes, as per the American Ostrich Association.

Where do ostriches live

Wild ostriches are found in the hot, dry woodlands and savannas of Africa. They used to roam all over Asia, Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula, but because they’ve been hunted often, their habitat has been diminished to sub-Saharan Africa in the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology(opens in a new tab). However, ostriches are captured in captivity across the globe.

What is the diet of ostriches

Ostriches are omnivores. This means that they eat both plants as well as meat. Though they do prefer plants, in particular, seeds, roots, and leaves, they also eat locusts rodents, snakes, and lizards as per The San Diego Zoo(which opens in a new menu). 

They also eat sand as well as pebbles to help grind the food they eat inside the gizzard. It is a small pouch in which food is crushed and then shredded before it is absorbed into the stomach. Ostriches don’t require water. They obtain every drop of water that they require through the plant life they consume. But, they do drink water if they stumble upon an area of water.

Sexual habits

Male ostriches are referred to as cocks, or roosters. females are referred to as hens. Ostriches in a group are known as a flock. A flock can comprise more than 100 birds but the majority of them contain 10 birds as per the San Diego Zoo. The group is comprised of one male that is dominant and a dominant female, as well as some females. Males that are alone are seen hopping around in mating season.

Ostrich eggs & baby ostriches

Ostrich eggs measure six inches (15 cm) in diameter and weigh as much as three pounds (1.3 kg). The eggs are laid inside a common nest known as dump nests that can contain up to 60 eggs at once. Males, along with females, rest in the egg until it hatches. This could take between 42 and 46 days.

Ostrich’s offspring are bigger than the rest of the bird babies. When they are born, the chicks could be twice as large as chickens. Females and males are equally responsible for taking care of the chicks in the words of the San Diego Zoo. In the event of an attack, the male attempts to distract the predator from their chicks as they hide together with the female.

After 6 months old, the baby chick is close to reaching its maximum height and at around three or four years old, it will mature. The lifespan of an ostrich is between 50 and 75 years.

Conservation status

advertisement the United Nations for Conservation of Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List(opens in a new tab), most ostrich subspecies do not face threats although their numbers are decreasing. The Somali Ostrich is classified as vulnerable(opens in a new tab), though their numbers are not known. It is believed that they are in the verge of extinction.

Other information

It’s not surprising that ostriches’ thin legs can hold their huge bodies straight. The legs of ostriches are placed to ensure that the body’s center of gravity is balanced on top of the legs.

Their slim legs provide them with excellent speed and agility as well. They can reach speeds of 40 miles per hour (64.3 kilometers/hour) for long durations of time in accordance with the American Ostrich Association.

Contrary to popular belief Ostriches

do not put their heads into the sand. However, they do rest their heads on the ground whenever they are feeling threatened. It’s only apparent that the ostrich has dug a hole in its head due to the fact that the neck and head blend into the color of the sand. Small Yellow Birds

Ostriches fight using their feet. They are known to kick forward, due to the direction that which their legs bend in accordance with the American Ostrich Association. A strong kick could end the life of an ostrich.